Australia have been hit by crucial injuries, bad results and dissent... meet the WOBBLIES

As yet another Australian talisman bit the dust, England tiptoed around the fact that their opponents at Twickenham on Saturday are in turmoil.

The withdrawal of world-class openside flanker David Pocock with a calf injury was another savage blow for the Wallabies ahead of the second QBE International, which could revive their tour or plunge them into new depths of disarray.

No amount of soothing words emerging from England’s Surrey HQ could disguise the fact that Robbie Deans’ side are in a state consistent with their amended nickname, the ‘Wobblies’.

Lost: David Pocock's calf-injury is a huge blow for Australia

Where to start? This has been a year of crisis upon crisis. First and foremost, Australia are licking their wounds on the back of a 33-6 mauling at the hands of France in Paris.

Following on from an early- season home defeat by Scotland and a turbulent campaign in the inaugural Rugby Championship, that was not the result their brittle morale needed.

The loss of Pocock is the latest in a catastrophic sequence of injury setbacks. He is a marquee man for Deans, who must already cope without many game-breakers in his back line, such as Will Genia, Quade Cooper and James O’Connor, as well as a recent captain up front, James Horwill.

These medical problems have contributed significantly to the poor results which left Deans clinging to his job by a thread towards the end of the Rugby Championship.

A triumph of character in Argentina kept the wolves from the door, as did a subsequent draw against an All Blacks side looking for a world-record run of wins. But there were dramas off the field, too, chiefly Cooper’s public criticism of a regime he condemned as ‘toxic’.

Disarray: Robbie Deans' (left) squad is in a jumble

The stand-off also poured scorn on selection and strategy under Deans and hinted at a desire to move to rugby league. He was heavily fined by the Australian Rugby Union.

So, against this backdrop of mixed results, controversy and dissent, the Wallabies were unable to paper over the cracks in Paris and now must confront England, who have beaten them in the last two Cook Cup encounters and have exerted a forward dominance for much of the last decade.

England are at pains to cast their opponents as dangerously wounded beasts, still awash with abundant class, but they are aware that a full house will expect an England win.

Asked if Australia are vulnerable, Toby Flood said: ‘I can understand why people would have that perception, but to me they are still a formidable side. Of course the injuries have an impact, but it doesn’t mean that the next guy coming through cannot manage.’

Still tough: Toby Flood said Australia won't be easy to beat

England coach Mike Catt acknowledged that a fast start by the home side could create doubts in Australian minds.

Referring to the issue of forward dominance, he said: ‘We’ve had that in the past and maybe (that will be in their minds), that’s why the first 20 or 30 minutes is crucial. We need to take the game to Australia and make sure they know they’re in another Test match.’

While accepting that the Wallabies have lost a lot of Test quality, he was wary of too much English optimism, adding: ‘They’ve still got world-class game-breakers. But Genia has been a massive loss in terms of game control.

‘David Pocock is world class, if not the best No 7 in the world — he and Richie McCaw are up there together. But don’t underestimate Michael Hooper, he might not have the same physical presence but he’s on the ball all the time, he’s got an incredible work-rate and he’s an incredible ball-carrier.’

Having emerged as Pocock’s able deputy, Hooper’s progress has served as an isolated source of encouragement for Australia this year. The irony is that the rookie flanker is half-English. His father played for Blackheath before emigrating from Maidstone to Manly in his early twenties.

Meanwhile, Flood was asked to respond to Wallaby wing Digby Ioane’s assertion that his opposite numbers in the England squad are ‘pretty’.

He handled it with aplomb, saying: ‘Is he talking about Charlie Sharples, with his “bean” head, or Chris Ashton with his see-through skin? I can see what he means about Ugo (Monye), to be fair, he’s quite attractive!’